Well THIS was nice. Althea approved. Better than dreary or overly masculine and... it was just welcoming. She noted the plants, and the pictures --cute baby-- and stepped out of the way so that the Headmistress could join her and they could talk.

Hmm and was that the husband?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tegz

Well THIS was nice. Althea approved. Better than dreary or overly masculine and... it was just welcoming. She noted the plants, and the pictures --cute baby-- and stepped out of the way so that the Headmistress could join her and they could talk.

Hmm and was that the husband?

"Please, have a seat," Annie gestured for Althea to get comfortable in one of the chairs before her desk while she sat herself behind it. Gingersnapple was out of sight for now, which was nice. "Would you care for a cup of tea?"

She rearranged a few things on her desk and waited to be reminded of why Ms. Schirmer had decided to meet.

"Thank you." Althea answered and did just that, sitting down neatly on one chair and crossing one leg over the other. "I would."

Althea paused as if to collect her thoughts and then spoke. "The reason I wished to see you was in regards to the... incident which destroyed the library collection last term." There were several barely suppressed emotions flickering over her face, irritation and anger, but also genuine sadness and compassion. She WAS a Ravenclaw after all. There was a certain thing she had for books, which was why she was here. "I'd like to make a donation, via the charity I represent, of a sizable collection of rare books." From her personal collection.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tegz

"Thank you." Althea answered and did just that, sitting down neatly on one chair and crossing one leg over the other. "I would."

Althea paused as if to collect her thoughts and then spoke. "The reason I wished to see you was in regards to the... incident which destroyed the library collection last term." There were several barely suppressed emotions flickering over her face, irritation and anger, but also genuine sadness and compassion. She WAS a Ravenclaw after all. There was a certain thing she had for books, which was why she was here. "I'd like to make a donation, via the charity I represent, of a sizable collection of rare books." From her personal collection.

"I'll send for Tinka," Annie nodded pleasantly. She folded her hands on her lap and settled back into her seat, waiting for it.

Oh, well, that was quite a nice offer of her, really. Annie could tell from the few expressions on her face that Althea felt as strongly about the library fire as... well, Leobald. And perhaps Dash? Hmm.

"It was a horrific incident, perhaps avoidable, but one we will never allow to happen again," the redhead vowed. Her brows went up slightly at the offer of rare books, however. "Are they part of a collection of reference books, Ms. Schirmer? I'm so thankful for the offer, really...." And surprised.... "What is your organization?"

She quickly pulled a bit of parchment and a quill toward her hand to make note of this.

POP!

Bearing a freshly polished silver tray, Tinka the house elf appeared out of thin air. Blinking twice to adjust her eyes to the brightly colored surroundings, she shook her head slightly in an attempt to get rid of the ear twitches this room always caused. The attempt failed. Miserably.

"Tinka bring Headmissus and Headmissus's guest tea service," she squeaked out. Bowing low so her nose nearly missed the floor, Tinka batted her eyes in admiration at the woman behind the desk. "Tinka bring hot water and assorted teas, cheese slices, and scones with raspberry jam," she said, beaming. "Tinka know Headmissus's favorite, Tinka know!"

She set the tray on the desk and bowed once more. "Tinka be going now if Headmissus don't need nothing else."

"Definitely avoidable." Which was to bring her to her next point which WOULD be a more public offer by necessity. "Yes, there are several full reference sets, its a large personal library and I had plans to downsize," Because she was looking at moving houses but the headmistress didn't need to know that or the reasons for it. "My grandfather was a collector of sorts, as am I. There are a few books in there you'd be hard pressed to find elsewhere, books that are copies of what once graced the Hogwarts Library." And would again. It was by no means enough to replace it all, the fundraising was definitely necessary, but it would help. "The Fawley-Schirmer Foundation, its a charity organisation my grandmother created to provide Internships, Apprenticeships, and Higher-level Wizarding Education at Universities for disadvantaged Wizarding youth."

She would have continued but was interrupted by the arrival of the house elf.

Even had she not heard the name, Althea recognised the elf from her own time working at Hogwarts. "Thank you Tinka, it looks lovely." Althea offered her own thanks and a small smile of amusement at the elf's obvious love of, and dedication to, Anastasia Truebridge.

Her attention went back to the woman in question.

"I wish for this particular donation to be anonymous. It isn't my intention to try to grub votes here. I... its just something that matters to me, personally." Did she understand? "However, I'd also like to offer services, those of my department, to charm and protect the library against future.... incidents. " Which was a different thing entirely. Althea wasn't so fussed about that being anonymous.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tinka

POP!

Bearing a freshly polished silver tray, Tinka the house elf appeared out of thin air. Blinking twice to adjust her eyes to the brightly colored surroundings, she shook her head slightly in an attempt to get rid of the ear twitches this room always caused. The attempt failed. Miserably.

"Tinka bring Headmissus and Headmissus's guest tea service," she squeaked out. Bowing low so her nose nearly missed the floor, Tinka batted her eyes in admiration at the woman behind the desk. "Tinka bring hot water and assorted teas, cheese slices, and scones with raspberry jam," she said, beaming. "Tinka know Headmissus's favorite, Tinka know!"

She set the tray on the desk and bowed once more. "Tinka be going now if Headmissus don't need nothing else."

Awww there was Tinka now, the little dear. "Thank you, Tinka," she smiled at the house elf. "You are dismissed. Thank you ever so much, these look delicious." She scooped up a scone with raspberry jam and took a bite, just to show Tinka how much she appreciated them.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tegz

"Definitely avoidable." Which was to bring her to her next point which WOULD be a more public offer by necessity. "Yes, there are several full reference sets, its a large personal library and I had plans to downsize," Because she was looking at moving houses but the headmistress didn't need to know that or the reasons for it. "My grandfather was a collector of sorts, as am I. There are a few books in there you'd be hard pressed to find elsewhere, books that are copies of what once graced the Hogwarts Library." And would again. It was by no means enough to replace it all, the fundraising was definitely necessary, but it would help. "The Fawley-Schirmer Foundation, its a charity organisation my grandmother created to provide Internships, Apprenticeships, and Higher-level Wizarding Education at Universities for disadvantaged Wizarding youth."

She would have continued but was interrupted by the arrival of the house elf.

Even had she not heard the name, Althea recognised the elf from her own time working at Hogwarts. "Thank you Tinka, it looks lovely." Althea offered her own thanks and a small smile of amusement at the elf's obvious love of, and dedication to, Anastasia Truebridge.

Her attention went back to the woman in question.

"I wish for this particular donation to be anonymous. It isn't my intention to try to grub votes here. I... its just something that matters to me, personally." Did she understand? "However, I'd also like to offer services, those of my department, to charm and protect the library against future.... incidents. " Which was a different thing entirely. Althea wasn't so fussed about that being anonymous.

Annie munched through the rest of the scone as Althea continued, jotting down a few things and then stopping abruptly. Her quill made an soft scratching sound when the blonde said she'd like her donation to be anonymous. "Oh?"

Yes, she understood how books could have a personal significance to someone. Just look at her husband. "I'll certainly keep your name out of it, if that is your wish." Annie made note of that as well, her quill pausing on the parchment as she looked up. "Would you like us to avoid mentioning the Fawley-Schirmer Foundation as well?" There would surely need to be a small press release on what sounded like a sizable donation here. Annie would do what she could to respect the strings that came attached here though. She was just grateful to have some books.

"As for the touching offer of your department's services," Annie had to force as smile on her face as she said that, "I'll have to think about it." Right now, the answer was a strong NO. NO, she did NOT want the Ministry interfering in her school under ANY circumstances. Unless it was absolutely necessary, which as of right now, she didn't think it was. "You're the Head of Accidents & Catastrophes, correct?"

"You can mention the Foundation if its easier for you to do so, I just wish to be sure that this isn't misconstrued as some vote-related ploy." Because at the end of the day this had nothing to do with her running for the Board, even if Dash had loudly said he thought she SHOULD be using it to get ahead. It wasn't as if she needed to anyway.

"Accidents and Catastrophes, yes." Althea paused, taking in Anastasia's expression. "And you do that." Think about it. "I'll happily roll up my sleeves myself and donate my own time as needed, if you like. No strings." No photo ops necessary either, mhmm.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tegz

"You can mention the Foundation if its easier for you to do so, I just wish to be sure that this isn't misconstrued as some vote-related ploy." Because at the end of the day this had nothing to do with her running for the Board, even if Dash had loudly said he thought she SHOULD be using it to get ahead. It wasn't as if she needed to anyway.

"Accidents and Catastrophes, yes." Althea paused, taking in Anastasia's expression. "And you do that." Think about it. "I'll happily roll up my sleeves myself and donate my own time as needed, if you like. No strings." No photo ops necessary either, mhmm.

"Right," Annie made note of that, though a little voice in the back of her head said that if this ... donation were truly not to be 'mis' construed as a ploy for voters, then Althea wouldn't have needed to bring up that angle at all. It wasn't as though the Headmistress herself wrote for the Daily Prophet!

Sure she'd think on it, think on ways to say NO to her deputy's girlfriend. "We'll see, Ms. Schirmer." The buzzer under her desk warned her that someone was outside the stone gargoyles, then, so she stood and flicked her eyes to the door.

"Will that be all, then? I'm terribly sorry but it appears I have another visitor." Even if it was just a student.

"Professor Schirmer." She corrected for the second time, a small smile on her face. "It will." She couldn't say that she hadn't offered, mmhmm.

"I'll have Dash bring them, most likely." The books, that was. "Thank you for your time." Thea stood. "I'm sure I'll have the chance to speak with you again soon." But for now, she left. Truebridge wasn't the only one with things to do.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tegz

"Professor Schirmer." She corrected for the second time, a small smile on her face. "It will." She couldn't say that she hadn't offered, mmhmm.

"I'll have Dash bring them, most likely." The books, that was. "Thank you for your time." Thea stood. "I'm sure I'll have the chance to speak with you again soon." But for now, she left. Truebridge wasn't the only one with things to do.

Annie wasn't going to call the woman professor when she didn't work with her. So she merely smiled and nodded, her usual polite gesture of dismissal.

Good, books were good. "Thank you for coming by. I'll see you around." She waited for the door to close behind the woman before moving around her desk and digging up a treat for Gingersnapple. He'd earned it, being so gooood in the corner. She patted him on his head and then went down to greet whoever was waiting for her.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Magical Soul

His cane was still suspended in midair about to clank again when the woman's voice reached his hearing aid ear, thank Merlin! The cane thudded down on the floor under his weight. The matter? Aaaah. He passed a hand on his sweaty forehead, down to rub his eyes, then his nose.. then.. no, just those.

He leaned forward on his cane again with both hands, wincing just a bit, and watched the glass of water get closer. "Thank you." He didn't want water, really. He wanted his glass box a seat. But he wasn't sure he'd be able to stand up if let his bones relax. So, water it is.

"There's been an accident." His hand was shaking from both anger and tiredness. "In my office. My safe container exploded." He gulped down the water and continued to try catching his breath. "It's a glass box. I need to investigate more. It's not just any glass box." Did he sound disoriented? Oh well, she needed to get the seriousness of this accident! He wanted to use his wand and let the stupid glass of water disappear but he'd toppled over the headmistress, so he just gave it back to her and looked into her face. "I never mess up my protective rune charms." Thirty bloody years practicing runic magic!

... why weren't they moving into somewhere where he could sit?

Annie watched the professor very carefully to make certain he wasn't about to pass out. He drank some of the water, but he seemed more determined to ramble on about some box instead of finishing it.

Merlin, she hoped this wasn't some symptom of dementia, or whatever it was that plagued old people.

"Let's head up to my office, shall we?" she eventually interrupted, gently taking his arm and steering him past her gargoyles. She didn't even have to utter the password, as they just KNEW her. Only took a year to train 'em.

Once they were off the spiral, smooth-moving staircase and moving into the office, Annie resumed their conversation. She helped the Ancient Runes professor into a chair in front of her desk as she spoke.

"Let me see if I have the story straight, Professor Botros," Annie said. "It sounds like you had a glass safe container... er, box? In your office? And it's explosive unless it has protective runic charms around it. But somehow, I'm assuming by accident, it exploded?"

She had reached her seat by now and had sunk into it, not messing up her speech a bit as she did. Folding her hands on her desk, the redhead maintained crucial eye contact with Botros. She trusted the man, as did Ethan, but something was off with his story. "Was anyone injured in the explosion?"

What.. why wasn't she panicking? Why wasn't she gasping and staring?! Okay, she was doing the latter but what about panic? Where is it?!

Botros wasn't aware of her gentle hand steering him toward the spiral staircase. He did follow her though, his hands shaking while grasping the top of his cane. It was nice of the woman to wait for him while he turtle!climbed up the steps.

Once inside the office, Botros limped over to the chair in front of the desk with the help of Ethan's wife, and plopped down stretching his wounded leg carefully and letting his bad arm fall into his lap. He shook his head and directed his torso toward her, eager to explain further. "Not really. I own two drops of a very rare and expensive potion." Elixir of Life, Egyptian Alchemy version. "Ten years I've kept them safe, in a metal box protected by a complicated binding protective runic charm." Well, not complicated for someone who was as good as he was in Runes. "I changed the metal box into a glass box to create some kind of glamour on whoever is nosy enough to tinker with it." This was mainly for students, for kids.

He sighed and rubbed his face again, unable to believe that this happened. "I was in my office earlier, this afternoon, with my Crup and two of my students. Everything was ordinary, I would've noticed if.." If.. if..? He paused and pursed his lips, half ashamed and half disappointed. "Two hours later as I was getting into my office again, with Mr. Odessa by my side and my Feo on the other side, something exploded. The next thing we know, we were showered with shards of glass." His voice caught at the end as he looked down at his extended leg. Physical pain could not be more insignificant.

"I would say the two vials of potion inside also crashed with the box. I don't have an explanation of how it happened other than it was... an odd accident." He slouched a bit as he continued. "Mr. Odessa was cut in the forehead but he's with the Healer now. I took care of the small wound on my Crup's paw." His heart was breaking for both of them.

He had one more thing to say - or well, ask of her but he waited for a reaction first. If she wanted to issue a hearing about this, start an investigation even..? Botros was too sad for losing those two vials and the glass box than to worry about whatever accusations might come his way.

His wife. It was her idea to keep the drops and never take them. It was some kind of a dare.

... he needed to visit the cemetery soon.

Botros was really, really hinged on this box, wasn't he? Annie tried not to doze off during Botro's story, but his clear passion for the thing kept her engaged. She waited until he was finished er, correcting her, before she spoke again.

"All right," she mused, putting together a mental image of the office and the box. "What potion specifically did the vials contain? Could the potion have been what exploded?" She was just trying to think of a reason why a harmless glass box, which by the sound of it had been inside Botros' office all term without a problem, would suddenly explode for no reason.

Or maybe it really was an odd accident. Odder things had happened at Hogwarts... but Annie was also trying to keep them occurring less and less. So she had to keep asking questions and investigating when necessary.

"You forgot to say whether or not you were injured, Professor Botros," the redhead remarked softly, her face softening some at the concern in the professor's tone. Aww, his crup had been hurt! She didn't even know the old man had a crup. She, too, would have been upset if anything had happened to HER kitty in HER office.

Hearing his mistress, the redhead's pet cat Gingersnapple got up from his bed in the corner and meandered over toward Botros. He wound around the old man's leg, rubbing up against it and starting to purr comfortingly.

Also, yeah, a student was injured. Right. Annie should probably say something about that. "I'll check with Healer Tillstorm regarding Odessa's injury." He was likely fine, by the sound of things. "Tell me more about this box," she prompted. "Just what spells were protecting it? And why did it need protection? Where did you have it set up in your office?" As in, was it on a flat surface? Was it booby-trapped? Was it hovering? Was it even SAFE?

If it really WAS a dangerous box and Botros was just leading her on.... oh it would not be pretty for him...

More talking, it seemed. Her questions were making him juuuust a bit uncomfortable since he didn't really tell the full story to anyone other than his kids. He hesitated before nodding his head and speaking, "Two drops of Elixir of Life. Each drop was preserved in a vial." Sigh. "I had a student at the university who had an Alchemist aunt. They were a gift. It all happened ten-- no, nine years ago." And they didn't explode before, obviously. "Unfortunately I've never been a dweller in the Alchemy department. From what I've read, I never heard of an explosive elixir of life." Not the real kind, anyways. Botros pondered over this...

... hmm? Oh yeah. Him. He patted his injured arm with a wince, "Just a scratch on the arm and the leg. Nothing serious." OUCH. Where did this big cat come from?! Botros smiled forcefully at the pet before lifting his leg with his hand and swinging it over the cat's head AWAY from him. No touching the bad leg! He kept his leg in the air, "I blame the years for making the injuries look like a big deal." Heh heh heh. No. Not time for witty comments. His insincere smile didn't last for long. He remembered something serious, "Also, Mr. Odessa fancied seeing his father after the... accident. I think it would be good for him if we tried contacting Mr. Odessa Sr." Poor boy.

The glass box. Yes. His eyes stayed on the cat for an extra moment. Shoo, please. "I used runic charms, of course, with my own Gandrs. Binding several runes and evoking their energies through the traditional rituals. That offered the box a code in order to be open." Yes? He explained further. "I used Isa, Naudhiz, Thurisaz, Kenaz, and even an inverted form of Raidho." Ethan would understand.

Why did it need protection? He lowered his leg, his hand growing tired of keeping it off the floor. "I didn't want the eagerly curious students to tinker with something I never tried myself." He wouldn't let his children do that either, or their children. "It was hovering on a stool by the table I keep my parchments and routine items on." He paused trying to think of anything else that might be useful. "It was a cubic glass box, iron edges. Fifty centimeters by fifty centimeters." That was about about 19 inches.

He sighed once more and inched toward the desk. "I can do more investigation. About the Alchemist that made the potion, I can get in touch with people and see if anything was wrong with--" It was so hard for him to loudly admit failure, after all this time!

Maybe he was indeed growing too old...?

"I was hoping you would agree to let me off Hogwarts grounds for two days." So much he needed to do. "I need to see my healer, too. He knows my full medical record and how to re-manage my potions."

"Two drops of the Elixir of Life?!" Annie found herself repeating incredulously, even if the rest of Botros' story made sense. "That's impressive, professor. I can see why you would want it... protected." Though it was also a little bizarre that he had it in the first place, she didn't say that. "And no, I agree, that potion is not explosive." Annie shook her head firmly. She had never held a vial of the potion, much less even seen it up close, but that was still unlikely to have been the source of the explosion.

So, moving on. The redhead noticed Gingersnapple trying to make Botros feel more comfortable in her office and hid a smile at the man's reaction. "Just a scratch?" she echoed. Gingersnapple watched the leg move up, up up, out of reach... or was it? He swished his tail and balanced up on his hind legs, swatting at the man's foot with his front paws like it was a ball of yarn. Swat swat, swipe! "Meowww," he whined, turning his big squashed face on the man. Maybe he wanted to pet Gingy instead? Gingersnapple came sniffing around his other leg, and decided to rub up forefully against that one. PETS?

"I'll contact Mr. Odessa," the redhead nodded and leaned forward on her desk, pulling some parchment her way as she started writing a note to herself. She also jotted down the runic charms Botros was listing off, though she couldn't be so sure his memory was accurate. Something had caused it to explode, after all. Maybe it was the Raido? Ugh. She hated Runes. She would have ask Ethan about these, though, because he had been the one to recommend she hire Botros.

The redhead finished her writing and folded her parchment note in half, tucking it off to the side and out of sight. "Gingersnapple," she sternly called to the cat, who was now playing a one-sided game of tug-o-war with Botros' shoelaces. She looked back up at the Ancient Runes professor. "There's no need to get into contact with the Alchmeist, Professor. I'm sure the potion was perfectly stable --- you had it for a number of years without issue, correct? To be frank," she gave him an honest but somewhat skeptical look, "this whole thing just sounds like a prank. I don't know who did it or why, but maybe you gave someone a bad grade and they wanted to get you back. So they broke into your office and exploded one of your most precious items in it."

It was in poor taste, yes, and very dangerous to make glass explode, but well, that's what it looked like to her. Nothing too serious though, right? No one had died, after all. She sighed as Botros seemed to disagree and even went so far as to ask for vacation time. Well, he was old, so she supposed she had to grant him that... "Sure. Take all the time you need." Annie busied herself with stacking and restacking some files, then. "Anything else while you're here, sir?"

He would've been proud. He would've offered to show her his two precious vials if they weren't blasted away. Botros nodded solemnly at her, as he reached down and started petting the cat absently. Poor Feo, he would've loved the feline and probably chased him and tried to scare him if he could walk. Oh and yeah, just a scratch. He waved his hand dismissively with a faint smile, "I've seen worse." Toothaches were unbearable, for example.

Botros followed the woman's moving hands. Good, good. She was writing things down, she knew how serious this all was. His memories! His box! He could relax a bit now that she got it. He'd be much more relaxed after he made sure his magic wasn't dying. "Thank you." For opting to contact Mr. Odessa. The boy seemed really scared.

A what?

The old man's hand went limp on the cat's head, not offering love anymore. A prank? He blinked slowly, considering this petty word. Petty, because it was so twisted, so harmful to everyone involved on both levels; physical and emotional, and for what? For such little motivation. The disgrace! He was mad again. A bad grade? Hmf. "I teach Ancient Runes. A lot of kids are bound to have bad grades." Yes, he knew how today's generation regarded the noble art of divination Runology. It was a shame, really.

Rubbing his face for the tenth time today, Botros let himself slumped in his seat, incredulous by the idea of letting a glass box explode as a prank, yet unable to dismiss it. It made so much sense...

... especially after the dinosaur banner outside his office! Someone was playing pranks on him. Someone... grumblegrumble.

At least he got two days off. "No. Nothing else, thank you headmistress." He reached for his cane, scratched the cat half-heartedly before standing up, leaning all his weight on his third leg. "Excuse me." Nodding his head at the young woman and placing a hand to the left side of his chest, grateful gesture from Egypt. Then Ab maneuvered himself with the cane and started toward the door, with a slower pace than usual.

As soon as the old man stopped petting Gingy, even after repeated bump!nudges to his hand to carry on, the fat cat paraded over to his Headmistress' chair and then hopped up onto her lap. Annie petted him absentmindedly and sort of frowned at Botros. He... was not happy with her answer, was he?

"And I taught Herbology, at various levels, to students of all ages," she reminded him gently. "People are people. For some," herself excluded, naaaaaaturally, "revenge is a hobby." The redhead shrugged, noting that regardless of what she said, Botros was probably going to show himself out now.

Oh well, at least he had a few days to get over the loss of his precious potion now. She brightened up a bit at the sight of that old Egyptian gesture, but didn't bother getting up to help him out. She had a cat on her lap and well, he didn't seem to want any of her help anyway.

"Professor?" she called out after him as he almost left earshot, "If you do happen to think of anyone, or happen to catch the person who was behind this... prank? You would let me know, wouldn't you?"

Annie didn't want the old man to keel over in the process of trying to get someone back for exploding his office. No, she'd rather help him get them back, so that he would survive and she would get to give out a detention.

"You take care," she added after a beat, letting her eyes drop back to her desk and her cat.

Taryn stopped abruptly at the door and opened it sloooooooowly, peeking inside to make sure that no one was around. Once she was convinced that they were alone, she slipped inside and held the door open for Milton.

"Ready?" She mouthed, not daring to speak out loud. She set up the poor little animal and turned back to the door. They could lift the charms there and RUN LIKE CRAZY. Yes?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Colley

Taryn stopped abruptly at the door and opened it sloooooooowly, peeking inside to make sure that no one was around. Once she was convinced that they were alone, she slipped inside and held the door open for Milton.

"Ready?" She mouthed, not daring to speak out loud. She set up the poor little animal and turned back to the door. They could lift the charms there and RUN LIKE CRAZY. Yes?

Milton stopped behind Taryn and peeked into the office beside her. It seemed clear of psycho Headmistress's to him, so he followed her right inside.

Setting the larger cattle on the floor, Milton pushed it by its rear end further into the office, near Truebridge's desk. Wouldn't it be great if the crazy redhead found COWPIES on her desk in the morning? HAH!

He was about to not to Taryn, but he had a brilliant idea. "Wait!" he whispered getting his wand out again. After pointing his wand at both of the cattle, Milton uttered the color-changing charm incantation and... tada! Both ugly cattle were now SUPER ugly and SUPER PINK.

Milton cackled and stepped away from the cows, moving to where Taryn was. "Okay," he whispered, pointing his wand at the large animal again. "On the count of three, we lift the charms and run like hell." He looked at her to make sure she understood.

"One... two......... three!" Quick as a firebolt, Milton waved his wand and lifted both the immobilizing charm and the featherweight charm from the larger cow. And then he BOOKED IT out the door and back down the stairs, hearing a loud, rumbling MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO from behind him.

SUCCESS.

Taryn possibly lifted her charms on two and not three, but she was nervous and ready to get out of there. She pulled away from the door and took off running right along with Milton, hoping that they didn't get caught for running in the halls.

ZOMGGETOUTOFTHERE. Those cattle sure didn't sound happy. Nope.

....Hopefully Milton had closed the door. She sure wasn't going back to look. They were LONG GONE.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Davvy_Wavvy

Sophia chuckled. She did have a point. Had she been running as a candidate though, the sucking up bit wouldn't happen. She was a fan of telling it like it is..respectfully of course. But now that she remembered, she was eager to hear what that young candidate had to say about her. Hopefully he was brave enough to be honest..she had no problem being critiqued once it was being done fairly.

"That's quite a shame..I was hoping for honest opinions on my teaching." She stepped into the spiral staircase and held on as it wound them up.

"They're honest, all right, they're just a little... nicer, than I think they would have been if they were ACTUAL Governors and not just candidates." Annie nodded and followed Sophia onto the staircase, noticing that the odd smell was getting stronger the closer she got to her office.

Well that was weird. Why on earth would her office smell like fresh dirt? No no, wait... the redhead inhaled sneakily and wrinkled her nose. That was not a dirt smell, that was definitely a fertilizer smell, like... well like straight-up manure, if she were being honest with herself. It stank like mooncalf patties in here.

"Just a minute," she murmured to Sophia, starting to get a BAD FEELING about this. She brushed by the other woman once the staircase stopped and hurried to her office door, unlocking it and realizing a moment too late that it was already unlocked. Oh no. No no.

Nooooo no no no no no no nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo. Bunz just STARED at the level of destruction in her office and dropped her bag of bags in shock as she was met by a long lowing sound. Mooooooooooooooo.

There were Highland CATTLE stomping around IN HER OFFICE, and COW PATTIES plopped out on HER DESK. And where was her beloved kitty Gingersnapple, who was supposed to be PROTECTIVE of her office? ALL CURLED UP on the back of one of the cattle, he was, as though this afternoon surprise were nothing out of the ordinary at all!

"MER-LIN!!!!!!!"

There was a smell that was getting stronger as they went further into the office. Sophia was feeling more and more like coming with some sort of excuse to not have tea with the woman. How could she enjoy tea with the office reeking and no doubt it was probably filthy..oh dear..who would have thought the headmistress was...

The charms professor stepped up behind the woman and looked over into her office. Now she was not the least bit amused by all this. Just last year..or was it the year before some hooligan had unleashed pygmy puffs in her office! Pygmy puffs! But at least they were great giant stinky beasts.

"What in Merlin's Holey sockssss..." She blinked at the scene in front of her..."How on earth did anyone get past the gargoyles?"

Merlin's holey socks DIDN'T EVEN BEGIN TO DESCRIBE IT for Bunz! She nearly fainted just from the smell, but then the shock of seeing FULLY GROWN CATTLE in her room kept her upright and clinging to the doorframe.

"I. Have. No. Clue." She replied tersely, finally coming to her senses and throwing a hand over her nose. She took a step into the room and nearly planted her precious Louboutins into a sickly-looking cow patty. She sidestepped it hurriedly. "No. Clue. There's only one explanation."

She turned around dramatically to stare at Sophia. "Someone with the password must have done this. One of my TRUSTED STAFF MEMBERS broke into my office, left his or her cattle here, and then ran off in the hopes that they would ruin my pr---"

Wait a minute, wait a minute, wait. a. minute. She knew these cattle. She knew who they belonged to. Annie turned around once more to stare at Gingersnapple, whom she could hear PURRING even all the way from here, and his new-found friends. Ugh. They were just standing around CHEWING and LOWING and STINKING THE PLACE UP. Stupid beasts. Who would want to own such pointless creatures ANYWAY?

"Alistaire Firth," the redhead muttered darkly, snapping her wand into her hand. "FIRTH IS BEHIND THIS ALL, I KNOW HE IS." She sent off her Nundu patronus with a furious flick of her arm and just as soon as it went out the door, the silvery beast nearly collided with another. The stag not belonging to Bunz skidded to a stop in front of the redhead and delivered an anxious message in the groundskeeper's voice.

Annie waited for it to finish before passing judgement in the form of a snort. "Well that's rich," she explained to Sophia, who unfortunately had to witness her office like THIS for her second time being in here, "he says his cattle were MISSING. Uh huh. Like he didn't send them here himself."

REAL FUNNY, FIRTH. ONLY NOT. Speaking of not funny... now that her wand was out, Annie could cast a bubble-head charm on herself and her guest. She gestured for Sophia to find somewhere to sit, if she could. Really this room needed to be DE-CONTAMINATED OF COW, first, before ANYONE should sit in it.